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Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, Michael Stefani, Art La Fleur, Biff Manard ... see more see more... , Anne Seymour , Alyson Croft , Miguel Fernandes , Wiley Harker , Richard Herd , Telma Hopkins , Lantz Krantz , Michael McGrady , Barbara Perry , Pete Schrum , Richard Erdman , Don Ross , Nicky Beat , Michael Heldebrant , Steve "O" Jenson , Minnie Lindsay , Brad Logan , Tony Malone , Edward McClarty , Kim Sheppard , Art LaFleur

With the whimsical tagline "Jack Deth is back and he's never been here before," director Charles Band melds Blade Runner, The Terminator, and Jingle All the Way for this low-budget science fiction adv... read more read more...enture. The story takes place in Angel City in the year 2247, when enforcer Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) has just retired from the weekly grind after vanquishing villain Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani) and his roving cohorts, called "trancers." But Whistler and his trancers have gone back to Christmas 1985, with the insidious plan of exterminating the ruling council by killing off all the council members' ancestors. So Deth agrees to go back in time to get Whistler and the trancers all over again. To do so, he must transfer his memory into the body of one of his ancestors, who in this case has just had an erotic interlude with the perky and attractive Leena (Helen Hunt), who works as a Santa's elf at a shopping mall and gets to wear a skimpy, tight-fitting elf suit. Deth discovers that Whistler has taken over the body of the police inspector and has started transforming the Los Angeles population into trancers --including Santa Claus. With Leena's help, Deth sets out to even the score. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

44% liked it

4,737 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Charles Band

Release Date: January 1, 1985

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DVD Release Date: March 28, 2000

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Stats: 171 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (171)

  • phubbs1
    June 25, 2011
    phubbs1
    Tim 'king of the sci-fi B-movie' Thomerson is again in yet another time travelling sci-fi flick and again he's a cop with a really good name...meet 'Jack Deth'.

    Yep another cracker alright :) this film makes Pyun's films look megabudget and the acting top class, there really isn... read more't much I can be positive about here, its not even enjoyable as a daft B-movie like 'dollman'. Terrible 'effects' with dreadful acting and some almost 'Ed Wood' style moments of corn and action, plus the plot is stupid and incomprehensible at times. Look out for Helen Hunt and Thomerson with dark hair! amazingly Thomerson acted in another four more of these with Helen Hunt.
  • ajv2688
    January 20, 2011
    ajv2688
    An okay sci-fi action thriller, with an average cast, and a predictable ending. It has some good scenes, but it could have been a lot better.
  • nuheart
    January 1, 2007
    nuheart
    I don't know: It's a weird Blade Runner/time-travel thing that's all rather silly, but it's so much fun. And Tim Thomerson is my personal hero.
  • whosinthenews
    March 1, 2010
    whosinthenews
    I can't decide which is the more craptastic Blade Runner knockoff; this or "Runaway" starring Tom Seleck and his mustache. And I'm also not sure what exactly it is that inspired so many sequels but I think there is something to be said about the swagger and conviction of Tim Thom... read moreerson's performance. Both he and Helen Hunt lend a certain lovable humanity to an otherwise ridiculous film, making this time capsule of all that was wrong with 80's sci-fi (and the 80's in general) seem almost bearable. Unlike similar futuristic action flicks, Trancers doesn't even bother going through the motions. It's so predictable and throwaway in nature that it almost laps itself and transforms into something unique...almost.
  • threefolddado
    March 4, 2008
    threefolddado
    There's a reason why this movie had many sequels.
  • DrLappos
    November 22, 2007
    DrLappos
    OMG what a retro film this was.
  • iamthethinman
    May 4, 2011
    iamthethinman
    What was this movie? It appears like it was inspired by some sort of Blade Runner Future Noir style but didn't have the money so they filmed in a diner in the future than took him back to the past. He has cheesy advanced technology and the monsters aren't really monsters. In many... read more ways, the actors aren't really actors either.

    The action isn't really there except for a scooter chase scene. But it's a SCOOTER CHASE SCENE! That alone is the only saving grace for this movie, though it still doesn't really save it. There still has to be oddly placed gags supposedly just for laughs that don't get them and a strange Santa Clause fight that really you would think would have caused a bigger ruckus.

    No need, you can pass on this movie unless you really love scooters.And I'm guessing you can do the same for the sequels. (Sequels? Really?)
  • The80sExpert
    May 28, 2010
    The80sExpert
    This is a mediocre sci-fi thriller with a predictable easy ending, but it has its good scenes too. I wasn't sure what to write about it other than that. Overall, an okay movie, but could've been better.
  • rageofsadako2008
    February 11, 2009
    rageofsadako2008
    Another one of my favorite movies growing up, Trancers introduced me to the cop from the future without peer, Jack Deth. Tim Thomerson's portrayal is pure tongue-in-cheek fun; and everything about this film is pure B movie gold. Helen Hunt is in here too, but she doesn't return f... read moreor the sequels I don't think. If you're a fan of low-budget camp sci-fi or B movies in general and haven't seen Trancers, shoot it to the top of your queue pronto. You'll be thanking me later. Also, check out 2 and 3, which are equally entertaining. 4 and 5 are less so, and were shot back to back. I haven't seen 6 yet, but it's on my list.
  • ShockSystem
    September 14, 2008
    ShockSystem
    I remember being so excited about just getting HBO that I sat through this wanna be sci-fi waste of time.

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Critic Reviews

Michael E. Grost
August 13, 2005
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Lots of fun science fiction adventure

Ken Hanke
May 23, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Enjoyable low-budget sci-fi with good performances and a sense of humor.

Brian Mckay
March 19, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

A mish-mash of 50's and 80's retro that is laughable at best. But you can certainly do worse when you're in the mood for a "drive-in" kind of night Full Review

Kevin Carr
August 10, 2004
Kevin Carr, Film Threat

No review available.

Daniel M. Kimmel
July 8, 2004
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

Walter Chaw
July 20, 2003
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

No review available.

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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Trancers Trivia

  • Which film may you find the character "Jack Deth"?  Answer »
  • Helen "Sweet Nostrils" Hunt Movie? Trancers  Answer »
  • Helen "Sweet Nostrils" Hunt Movie? Trancers II  Answer »
  • Helen "Sweet Nostrils" Hunt Movie? Trancers III  Answer »
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